A major European consumer watchdog has called for an EU-wide investigation into seven airlines, including Ryanair, over allegations they are illegally charging passengers for hand luggage.
The European Consumer Organisation (BEUC) filed a formal complaint this week with the European Commission and EU Consumer Protection Network, accusing the airlines of “exploiting consumers” through unfair baggage fees.
The targeted airlines include Ryanair, Easyjet, Norwegian Airlines, Transavia, Volotea, Vueling and Wizzair. BEUC claims these carriers are violating EU law by charging additional fees for reasonably sized hand baggage that should be included in basic ticket prices.
“These airlines are ignoring the EU top court who ruled that charging reasonably sized hand baggage is illegal,” said Agustín Reyna, BEUC’s Director General.
The complaint follows significant legal precedent set in Spain, where the Ministry of Consumer Affairs imposed €179 million in fines on airlines last year for hand luggage fees. The Court of Justice of the European Union has ruled that non-checked baggage meeting reasonable size and weight requirements should be considered a necessary item for passengers and not subject to additional charges.
BEUC also accused airlines of using “different and inconsistent wording” regarding luggage policies to mislead consumers, creating confusion about what passengers can bring aboard without extra fees.
Ryanair Defends Its Policy
Ryanair strongly defended its baggage policy in response to the complaint. The airline allows passengers to carry a 40cm x 25cm x 20cm personal bag free of charge, though additional bags cost from €30 per flight when booked online or €60 if purchased at the airport.
While Ryanair described its personal bag allowance as “generous,” BEUC noted it is actually smaller than allowances offered by the other airlines under investigation.
“Ryanair’s bags policy fully complies with EU Law, which grants all EU airlines the freedom to set prices,” a Ryanair spokesperson said, adding that the airline welcomed the EU investigation as it would confirm their compliance.
The airline argued that forcing carriers to include additional carry-on bags in basic fares would “reduce choice and drive-up air fares for all passengers, which would harm consumers.”
Industry Pushback
Airlines for Europe (A4E), an industry group, claimed the BEUC action “would decrease consumer choice and oblige all passengers to pay for additional services that they may not all need.”
The group noted that Spain’s decision on cabin bag fees is currently under appeal and that the European Commission is reviewing whether it complies with EU law.
Ryanair also used the opportunity to criticise online travel agents, claiming they “continue to induce unsuspecting consumers into paying unjustified hidden mark-ups for flights that cost much less when booked directly on airlines’ websites.”
Consumer Expectations
BEUC’s research indicates that consumers typically expect both a small personal item and a piece of hand luggage to be included when purchasing basic airline tickets. The organisation is calling for policymakers to establish clear definitions of “reasonable size and weight” for hand luggage to prevent airport disputes and reduce costs for both consumers and airlines.
The investigation request highlights ongoing tensions between budget airlines’ unbundled pricing models and consumer protection regulations across the European Union.